Heat-treating apparatus



P 1944- I H. E. SOMES 2,358,834

- HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 2 0, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PICA 75 as 24 i i4 69 81 32.

100 98 INVENTOR H omardESomes WLKPT Sept. 26, 1944.

H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR H omardESomes yymm,

A TTORNE'Y Patented Sept. 26, 1944 HEAT-TREATIN G APPARATUS Howard EeSomes, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Budd Induction Heating, Inc., Philadelphia,

Pa., a corporation 0! Mi chigan Application May 20,1940, Serial No. 336,129

19 Claims.

This invention relates to induction heat treating apparatusand more particularly to a heating and quenching fixture especially adapted for the progressive heat treatment of internal walls of tubular objects.

In heat treating relatively. long tubes it is preferable that the heating and quenching fixtures be supported from opposite ends so that congestion in the supporting arbor is minimized. In my Patent No. 2,281,333, granted April 28, 1942, the quenchin fluid, cooling fluid as well as the conductors for leading the current into and out of the inducing coil are all arranged within the common support arbor and in such an arrangement it is diflicu'lt to provide a separate cooling water source and a separate quenching source, which is desirable in apparatus of this sort since safety in the use of such apparatus depends upon separate supply lines for cooling and quenching. Further, it is desirable that as great a volume of quenching fluid as possible be supplied to the apparatus to the end that the object being heat treated may be substantially instantaneously quenched, thus improving the efllciency of the apparatus.

It is, accordingly,an object of the present invention to provide an induction heat treat apparatus adapted for progressive operation in which the heating head and the quenching head are separable and introduced from Opposite ends of a tubular object to be internally heat treated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an interacting heat treating head and quenchins head of the type described in which proper positioning of the one with respect to the other is made essential before the flow of coolin fluid through the heat treating head may be effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat treating head which is readily removable from its mechanically supporting arbor and in which electrical connections are quickly effected to concentric conductors of which the arbor is comprised.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a heat treating coil of several turns or more of the type described for progressive heat treatment in which the turn exposed to the greatest heat radiation from the workpiece is connected so as to be at a potential substantially that of the workpiece.

These and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a tonne! the invention and they method by which the same may be produced. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition upon the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. 'In the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 illustratesv a modification of the invention illustrated in longitudinal section ands Figure 2 is another modification of the invention likewise illustrated in longitudinal section. Referring to Figure i there is illustrated a tubularworkpiece it in which heat treatment is to be effected, for example the internal wall hardened to a substantially uniform depth as indicated at l2. Such heat treatment is effected through the generation of annular high frequency heating currents in the internal wall and adjacent layers of the workpiece by reason of the inducing coil M and theapplication of quenching fluid through the annular quenching nozzle t6, it being understood that the workpiece is moved downward with respect to the coil I4 and quenching nozzle Hi at a uniform rate.

The heat treating head, on which the coil It is mounted, is provided with a laminated'iron core 18 in the window 20 of which are arranged .a-plane perpendicular to the aids of the head,

each turn being provided with an offset portion leading into the adjacent turn as indicated-at 32, the offsets being substantially in line with the terminals 22 and 24.

The annular core l8 and insulating block 25 are supported upon a sleeve between a recessed shoulder 36 on the sleeve and a recessed collar 38 and collar 40, threaded upon the sleeve. It will be observed that the turn connection 22 which is at the lower end of the inductor coil is made directly to an integral shoulder portion 42 of said sleeve, the same corresponding to the segmentalcportion of the core completed by the insulating block I! and thus the lower end turn calescent temperature;

oi the inductor coil derives its energy through the sleeve 33 which is in turn connected to the exterior sleeve 46 of the supporting arbor generally indicated by the reference numeral 48.

The other terminal N of the inductor coil N is provided with a tubular extension 2% extending through an integral sleeve-like portion 48 of the insulator block 26 through the sleeve 36 and through an internal insulating sleeve 58 and thence threaded into an inner central main supportsleeve 52. The latter sleeve is readily insertable into the inner sleeveb i of the arbor it; and is secured thereinto by a central extending bolt to threaded into the collar 58 secured through threaded engagement within the center arbor sleeve 56. made betweenthe upper terminal of the coil and the center sleeve of the arbor, and it will appear that in efiect the leads are cross-connected by The main support sleeve E52 and sleeve 8d of the head are secured together through a shul= dered collar 68 threaded upon the sleeve 3d and the shouldered collar is provided with a plurality of spring contact pads 62 which are adapted to make connection to the outer grounded sleeve id of the arbor .36.

In order to cool the inductor coil the same is tubular and its terminal connections are likewise tubular to provide a continuous passage for the flow oi a coolant therethrough. As illustrated, cooling water preferably under pressure is supplied through the center sleeve 56 of the arbor, the same passing through bores 6b in the collar 58 and thence downward through an annular space 68 provided between the main support sleeve 52 and the center bolt the bore of the tubular terminal extension 25 and thence through the hollow conductor to the other terminal 22.

ascassc end of the bolt andthe central support sleeve 52,

the latter being secured in place by a threaded collar 88. t I

The quenching fixture or head 38 is provided with annular collars 9B and 92 threaded upon a shoulder 94 of the quench support tube 96 and communicationto the annular quenching nozzle it is provided through the ports $2 in the sup- Thus electrical connection is- Sit port tubefit and the ports Mill in the annular nozzle collar til. The quench fixture 8% is provided with a pin 802 which is adapted to engage the valve It and open the same when the quench fixture or head 38 is in the position shown ready for quenching operation. Opening the valve permits the flow of coolant through the inducing coil through the valve seat sleeve til and into the recess its in the end of the quenching head 38 and from thence, the cooling fluid is permitted to escape through the ports Slit into the space m8 through which the quenching fluid from the nozzle it flows. To assure concentricity of quench and heat treat head when together, the mating conical projection lbi and recess idil on the head and anemia respectively are provided.

Referring to the modification of Figure 2 considerable similarity will be seen between the structure there shown and that of Figure 1. The workpiece it is adapted to be heated by the in= ducing coil Ml arranged on acore it, the latter being mounted upon a sleeve lit between threaded and grooved collars M2 and lid, respectively; and the ular notch M6 in the support sleeve M53. The coil terminals H2 and ifi i are connected to the sleeve lid and the concentric central support member l2t,-respectively,-in a manner similar to that disclosed in Figure 1.

(lii' is clamped and the two sleeves or support mem- The sleeve 36 adjacent the terminal shoulderportion 62 thereof is provided with a radial aperture ill through which the coolant may pass. in order to prevent the how or coolantthrough the coil at such times as the same is not operatively associated with the quenching head, a valve is provided within the end of the sleeve 96, which valve is opened through thepositioning oi the quench head in proper relation to the heating head. The valve is composed of a threaded annular hollow valve casing 13 threaded into the end of the sleeve 35, the hollow member being provided with a conical valve disc M carried on a stem It, the latter being slidable within a socket ll in the casing 12. A valve seat 86 for the conical valve 14 is formed in a collar 88 threadedly received in an aperture 84 in the underside oi the casing 12. The hollow portion within the casing is adapted to be connected to the port 10 in the sleeve 34 through one or more apertures 86 through which such communication is established. The valve assembly is removable to pro-. vide access to the head 51 of the bolt. 58 and suitable insulation 1. and I 18 provided between the 7 bars are secured together by an end; collar Q38 threaded on the inside of the end of the sleeve lit, the collar bearing against an insulating disc' i 38 thrust against the end of the inner support member M5. The coil terminals i222 and H5 are arranged in a suitable sector-shaped insulating block M2 likewise quite similar to that of Fit ure 1. a

The assembly comprising the concentric support members Hi3 and 828 is secured in the main support arbor by a bolt l idthreaded into a transverse perforate partition ME in the central arbor and support sleeve M8, the sleeve being carried by the end of a tubular member use located within an outer tubular member l52,.the two members being insulated as at I54 by a sleeve extending the length of the arbor. Through this arrangement electrical connection is made between the central support member I28 and the arbor tubular member I59. Electrical connection is made between the outer support member ill! of the head to the outer tubular member of the arbor 353 through a shouldered end cap I56 I58 and I52 (Figure 2) or N and M of Figure 1 are not rigidly secured together at the lower end as shown but are relatively free to expand and contract. relatively, the friction contact pads the external conductor tube I52 by reasonof its forming a cooling water conduit leading to the inductor coil, may take place without stressing the parts. When it is considered. that a supporting arbor may be of considerable length and that accurate centering of the heating coil within the work is of great importance, it will be appreciated that allowance for such expansion and contraction without the setting up of stresses which might throw the apparatus out of alignment is an important feature.

The flow of cooling fluid through the coil is controlled in the present modification through a ball check valve, the latter being composed of a valve seat member IN, a bail I88 and a ball retaining member I88, the seat and retaining members being threaded on the interior oi the support member I III at the end thereof and the retaining memher being jammed against the threaded collar I 38. The retaining member also is provided upon its outer surface with a block of insulation I10 to protect the same from electrical" breakdown.

Through the central aperture I12 of the valve seat member, the pin I14 carried by the quenching head I16 projects so as to lift the ball frcm its seat when the quenching head is in proper position with relation to the heating head. The quenching head in the present modification varies from that of Figure l in that the members form ing the annular nozzle I18 i'orm an assembly by themselves. As illustrated the nozzle member I 80 is threaded upon the nozzle member I82 and I88 and provided with apertures I98" connecting with an annular groove I82 in the head I18, the latter being connected with the central bore I94 of the head through ports I96. A drainage port I88 is provided through the head so that cooling fluid passing through the check valve aperture I12 may escape into the quenching discharge annulus 200 and in order to prevent suchdischarge from unevenly affecting the freshly quenched sur-, face of the work III, the member I82 may have a suitable skirt illlproiecting downward to deflect the discharge fluid passing through the port I98.

There has thus been described a heat treating head together with its attachment to the supporting arbor and its cooperation with a separable quench. The readily detachable feature of the quench and heat treat head from their supports makes it possible to provide in an apparatus having'the requisite work holder, quench operating head and heat treating head a plurality of heads and quenches of different diameters which are quickly interchangeable so as to heat treatvarious diameters of bores and varying materials.

The quenching head per se and the method of quenching are disclosed and claimed in my oopending application Serial No. 419,828, filed November 21, 1M1, as a continuation-in-part of this application.

Though two modifications of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be embodied in various modifications and arrangements which may be made without departing from the spirit or the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, any of the features of either modification may in many instances be readily incorporated in the other, and such changes as become necessary in constructing heads and quenches of different sizes may be efl'ected. Accordingly, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits or the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an inductive heat treating head a multitum inducing coil, a support therefor comprising tubular concentric conductors, means for electrically connecting said coil at one end to the inner conductor, through a connection passing through and insulated from the outer tubular conductor, and means for electrically connecting the other end of the coil to the outer tubular conductor.

2. In an inductive heat treating head. a support comprising tubular concentric conductors, one end of the outer conductor extending beyond one end of the inner conductor, and the other end of the inner conductor extending beyond the other end of. the outer conductor to provide an attachment shank, a multi-turn coil on said support arranged around the outer conductor at the first-named end, an electrical connection from said coil to the outer conductor substantially at one end thereof, and an electrical connection from the other end oi the coil to the inner conductor passing through and insulated from said outer conductor.

3. In an induction heat treating apparatus having a multiturn inducing coil for progressively heating the internal surface of an elongated hollow workpiece and of the character wherein the coil and workplace are adapted to have relative longitudinal movement with the coil so closely ad-,

Jacent the workpiece that during such relative movement the radiated heat of the portion of the workpiece under immediate heating by the coil tends to heat the trailing end of the coil to a temperature greater than the leading end thereof, a support for said coil comprising inner and outer conductors insulated from each other, the outer of said conductors supporting said coil and being grounded and electrically connected to the trailing end of said coil and the inner of said conductors being electrically connected to the leading end of said coil.

4. In an inductive heat treating head, an inducing coil having a coolant passagetherein, a support for said coil comprising concentric tubular conductors insulated from each other, said inner conductor having-a coolant-conducting passageway, and electrical connectors between said conductors and the ends of said coil, the connector between said coil and inner conductor extending through and insulated from the wall of said outer conductor and having a passageway in communication with the passages of said coil and inner conductor.

5. In an inductive heat treating head, inner and outer tubular conductors, the inner conductor being closed at one end and the outer extending axially beyond the inner to provide a coolant discharge chamber within the outer and axially beyond said closed end, an induction coil surrounding said outer conductor and having terminal connectors, one connector being insulated from and extending through said outer conductor and being electrically connected to said inner conductor and the other connector being electrically connected to said outer conductor, said coil and connectors having a coolant conducting passage communicating through said one connector with the interior of said inner connector and through said other connector with said chamber.

6. In an inductive heat treating head, inner and outer tubular conductors, the inner conductor being closed at one end and the outer extending axially beyond the inner to provide a coolant discharge chamber within the outer and axially beyond said closed end, an induction coil surrounding said outer conductor and having terminal connectors, one connector being insulated from and extending through said outer conductor and being electrically connected to said inner conductor and the other connector being electrically connected to said outer conductor, said coil and connectors having a coolant conducting passage communicating through said one connector with the interior of said inner connector and through said other connector with said chamber, said chamber having an outlet opening and a valve means associated with said chamber for controlling the flow of coolant from said outlet opening.

7. In an inductive heat treating head, inner and outer tubular conductors, the inner conductor being closed at one end and the outer exsaid quench head discharge passage.

tending axially beyond the inner to provide a coolant discharge chamber within the outer and axially beyond said closed end, an induction coil surrounding said outer conductor and having terminal connectors, one connector being insulated from and extending through said outer conductor and electrically connected to said inner conductor and the other connector being electrically connected to said outer conductor, said coil and connectors having a coolant conducting passage communicating through said one connector with the interior of said inner conductor and through said other connector and a discharge port in the wall of the extending portion of said outer conductor with said chamber, said chamber having a first valve casing member intermediate said port and the closed end of said inner conductor to seal the space therebetween, a second valve casing member between said port and the extending end of said outer conductor, said second casing member having an outlet passage and valve means between said casing members for opening and wall of said end, said coolant passage communicating through said port with the interior of said open end, valve means within saidopen end 7 ioaclosing and opening the same to control the fl6w;{oi' coolant through said passage, port and openend, an arbor .on which said support is carried, and securing-means within said open end between said valve means and arbor for securing said support and arbor together, said valve means 'including'a housing within said open end having a cooperable valve seat and valve, said housing 9. In an induction heat treating apparatus, a

heating head having an inducing coil, said coil having a fluid cooling passage therethrough, a normally closed valve carried by said head for controlling the flow of cooling fluid through said passage, a quench head axially aligned and relatively movable into and. out of a position of adjacent relationship with said heating head and having a discharge passage adapted to communicate with said valve when said heads are in adjacent relationship-and means responsive to the proper positioning of said heads in said position of adjacent relationship for opening said valve to permit cooling fluid to be discharged from said coil passage, through said valve and 10. In an induction heat treating apparatus, a heating head having an inducing coil, said coil having a cooling fluid passage therethrough and heads being relatively axially movable into and out of registering engagement with each other, said cooling fluid passage of said quench head in the registered positions of said heads being incommunication with the discharge passage of said heating head to receive coil cooling fluid therefrom, and an annular baiiie means of appreciable axial extent carried by said quench head and circumferentially surrounding said exhaust port to direct. cooling fluid exhausting therefrom in a generally axial direction.

11. In an induction heat treating apparatus, a heating head having an inducing coil, said coil having a cooling fluid passage therethrough and said head having an axially opening discharge passage for receiving cooling fluid from said coil passage, a quench head having an annular discharge nozzle and a cooling fluid passage therein having an axially opening inlet, said heads being axially relatively movable into and out of end engagement with each other, said inlet in the engaged position of said heads being in open communication with said discharge passage to.

receive cooling fluid therefrom, and annular cooperative interfltting means on said heads circumferentially surrounding said inlet and the outlet of said discharge passage for axially aligning said heads and providing a seal against, the discharge of coil cooling fluid from between said heads when in end engagement.

12. In an induction heating apparatus, a-pair of inner and outer concentric conductors, an induction heating head having inner and outer' tubular conductors and an induction heating element supported by said outer tubular conductor and having terminal connections with said tubular conductors, said inner tubular conductor having an end portion for abutting engagement with said inner concentric conductor, a tension member extending axially within said inner tubular conductor for securing said inner conductors together in axially abutting engagement. said outer tubular conductor having an electrical connec-- tion with said outer concentric conductor.

13. In an induction heating apparatus, a pair oi inner and outer concentric conductors, an induction heating head having an inner tubular conductor, anouter tubular conductor and an induction heating coil carried by said outer tubuportions'i'or urging one shoulders, insulation a,sse,as4

lar conductor, said cell having its terminals electrically connected with said tubular conductors, one of said inner conductors being arranged to telescopically receive the other, a bolt member extending axially within said inner tubular conductor and having a shouldered head end axialductors insulated from each other, an inducing head unitary assembly including inner and outer concentric conductors insulated from each other and an inducing coil supported by said outer head conductor and having electrical connections with said inner and outer head conductors, said inner conductors having overlapping electrical wiping engagement with each other and said outer conductors having overlapping electrical wiping engagement with each other, and detachable means 'for securing two of the overlapping conductors together.

15. In an inducing head for heating by electro magnetic induction, a pair of concentric conductors having'overlapping shoulder portions, insulation between said conductors and said shoulders, an inducing coil carried by the outer of said conductors, electrical connections between said coil and said conductorasaid conductors having end portions axially spaced from said shoulders, and means cooperating with said end,

der toward the shoulder of the other conductor to clamp the insulation therebetween. '16. In an induction heat treating head, a pal of concentric conductors having overlapping shoulders, insulation between said conductors and 4 shoulders, said outer conductor at one end extending axially beyond the end of the inner conductor, means within the extending end of the outer conductor and engaging said end of the inner conductor to secure said conductors in assembled relation, and an inducing coil -sur-- rounding said outer conductors and-having an electrical connection with the outer conductor and an electrical connection with the inner conductor, said last mentioned connection being in-. sulated from and extending through the outer conductor.

17. In an induction heat treating head, a pair oi concentric conductors having overlapping between said conductors and shoulders, said outer conductor at one end extending axially beyond the end of the inner conductor, insulated means threaded within the extending end of the outer conductor and exerting pressure against said inner conductor end conductor and its shoulto secure said conductors in assembled relation,

and an inducing coil surrounding said outer conductor and having an electrical connection with v the outer conductor and an electrical connec tion with the inner conductor, said last mentioned connection being insulated from and extending through the outer conductor.

18. In an apparatus for heat-treating by electro-magnetic induction heating, first and second members, each having a terminal end, said members being relatively movable toward and away from each other to place said terminal ends into andout of end juxtaposition, an annular inducing coil surrounding and supported internally by the terminal end of said first member and having a coolant passage therethrough, the terminal end of said first member-having a chamber therein for receiving coolant from the outlet end of said coil and having a discharge passage opening through the end thereof from said chamber, and a valve device, carried by said terminal end of said first member and associated with said discharge passage, said valve device being automatically movable from an open-passage positionto a closepassage position and normally closing said discharge passage when said terminal ends are out 01- juxta-position, the terminal end oi saidsecond member having a part eflective during relative movement of said terminal ends into juxta-position to move said valve device into open passage position andto maintain said valve device in open passage position while said terminal ends remain in juxta-position.

19. In a heat treating apparatus, a quench head having a quench discharge nozzle passage therein and a coolant passageway separate from said nozzle passage, a heating head having a coolant conducting passage for cooling 'the headduring the heating function thereof, and a flow controlling valve normally 'closing'said coolant conducting passage, said heads being relatively axiall movable into and out of end iuxta-position with each other to respectively connect and disconnect said quench head passageway and said heatin? head coolant conducting passage, said heating head and quench head being operative when in iuxta-position to perform their respective heating and quenching functions, and means on said quench head to actuate said valve to open passage position during. relative movement of said heads into juxta-position to connect said coolant Y a passage and passageway, whereby heating head coolant may discharge through said quench head passageway during. the heating operation or said heating head and the discharge of quenching medium from said quench head.

HOWARD machine, 

